Executive: Human Capital (PPB South Africa)

Absa Bank is inviting experienced Human Capital professionals to apply for the position of Executive: Human Capital (PPB South Africa), based in Sandton, Gauteng. This is a senior executive opportunity for an accomplished Human Capital leader who can develop and execute people strategies that directly support business growth, organisational transformation and long-term performance.

The successful candidate will work closely with executive leadership and Human Capital Centres of Expertise to strengthen workforce planning, leadership capability, talent management, organisational effectiveness, employee experience and culture. The role also provides an opportunity to influence strategic decisions within a complex and highly regulated financial-services environment.

About Absa Bank

Absa is a major African financial services group with more than 100 years of history. The organisation provides banking and financial solutions across Africa and combines local expertise with regional and international capabilities.

The bank focuses on building a future-ready organisation while supporting customers, businesses and communities across its markets. Employees have opportunities to contribute to transformation, innovation and sustainable business growth.

About the Role

The Executive: Human Capital (PPB South Africa) will be responsible for developing and implementing the Human Capital strategy for the PPB South Africa Business Line.

The position serves as a strategic partner to executive leadership, translating business priorities into workforce and people outcomes. The executive will help ensure that the organisation has the leadership capability, talent, culture and workforce readiness required to achieve its strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the Business Line Human Capital strategy in alignment with business objectives, growth priorities and transformation goals.

• Translate business strategy into measurable people outcomes and strategic workforce initiatives.

• Provide strategic Human Capital advice to executive leadership.

• Challenge and influence business decisions from a Human Capital perspective.

• Lead workforce planning to identify critical capabilities, future skills requirements, leadership risks and talent priorities.

• Ensure organisational readiness for future business demands.

• Drive leadership effectiveness, succession planning, talent management and employee mobility.

• Develop strong leadership pipelines for current and future organisational needs.

• Lead initiatives focused on organisational culture, employee engagement, inclusion and alignment with business values.

• Promote a high-performance environment that supports productivity and employee wellbeing.

• Lead organisation design, change management and organisational effectiveness initiatives.

• Drive transformation programmes across the business.

• Provide executive oversight of performance management, reward and recognition practices.

• Partner with Human Capital Centres of Expertise, Shared Services and business leaders to ensure effective delivery of Human Capital solutions.

• Translate strategic priorities into operational plans, scorecards and performance measures.

• Drive operational excellence through effective people practices, process optimisation and performance monitoring.

• Champion digital Human Capital solutions, workforce innovation and technology adoption.

• Ensure compliance with Human Capital governance frameworks and risk management requirements.

• Identify and mitigate people-related risks.

• Use workforce data and analytics to generate actionable insights and improve decision-making.

• Build and maintain relationships with executive stakeholders, regulators, industry bodies and strategic partners.

• Represent the organisation in relevant professional and industry forums when required.

Qualifications Required

• A postgraduate degree in Human Resources Management, Organisational Psychology, Business, Commerce or a related field.

• Bachelor Honours Degree, postgraduate degree, postgraduate diploma or relevant professional qualification.

• Strong knowledge of Human Capital strategy and workforce planning.

• Strong knowledge of talent and succession management.

• Knowledge of organisational development and culture transformation.

• Knowledge of performance management, reward and recognition.

• Knowledge of employee experience and change leadership.

• Knowledge of Human Capital analytics.

• Knowledge of governance and risk management.

• Strong stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Skills and Competencies

• Strategic thinking.

• Strong business and commercial acumen.

• Executive presence.

• Leadership and people management.

• Strong influencing and negotiation skills.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Decision-making ability.

• Collaboration.

• Innovation and creativity.

• Resilience.

• Change leadership.

• Ability to deliver results.

• Ability to operate effectively in a complex and highly regulated environment.

Experience Required

• Significant executive-level Human Capital leadership experience.

• Experience within financial services, a multinational organisation or another similarly complex environment.

• Proven experience developing and implementing Human Capital strategies.

• Experience leading workforce transformation initiatives.

• Experience in leadership development and succession planning.

• Experience in organisational effectiveness and organisational development.

• Experience in talent management and critical skills retention.

• Experience leading culture transformation initiatives.

• Experience partnering with executive leadership teams.

• Experience operating within highly regulated environments.

Who Can Apply

This opportunity is best suited to senior Human Capital professionals with extensive executive leadership experience and a strong understanding of strategic people management.

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to connect Human Capital strategy with commercial objectives, influence senior stakeholders and lead large-scale organisational transformation. Candidates should also have experience working in complex organisations where governance, risk management, regulatory compliance and business performance are critical.

Job Details

• Position: Executive: Human Capital (PPB South Africa)

• Reference Number: R-15990028-1

• Location: Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa

• Work Arrangement: Hybrid

• Job Type: Full-time

• Employer: Absa Bank

• Closing Date: 21 August 2026

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official Absa careers platform.

Apply for Executive: Human Capital (PPB South Africa)

Applicants are encouraged to ensure that their CV clearly demonstrates executive-level Human Capital leadership experience, strategic workforce planning, talent management, organisational transformation and experience partnering with senior leadership.

Absa Bank is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. In accordance with the Employment Equity Act, preference may be given to suitable candidates from designated groups whose appointment contributes to equitable demographic representation and workforce diversity.

Absa Bank also reserves the right not to make an appointment to the advertised position.

Final Thought

The Executive: Human Capital (PPB South Africa) position offers an opportunity for a highly experienced Human Capital leader to influence business strategy, organisational transformation and workforce development at executive level. Candidates with strong strategic, commercial and people leadership capabilities should consider applying before the 21 August 2026 deadline.